OATS focuses on wellness with Biggest Loser competition

Just three months ago OATS announced the company’s new wellness program, dubbed OATS Wellness for Life, and kicked off a statewide Biggest Loser competition. Now, twelve weeks later, the company is already seeing the benefits.

Inspired by the NBC hit television program, OATS offered its first companywide challenge to employees to lose weight. The challenge paid off with 140 employees losing over 1,200 pounds in just 12 weeks. Top winners in the twelve-week challenge included David Wood of Troy, Ebony Goss of St. Louis, Lisa Loney of Chillicothe, Brad Helton of Kirksville, Robert Stewart of Chillicothe, and Dennis Pair of Belton. Team honors went to the staff at Bridgeton for winning the highest team percentage.

“We are very pleased with the results of our first wellness program,” said Jill Stedem who coordinated the program at the OATS home office in Columbia. “The program developed stronger team camaraderie, brought awareness to health risks and the benefits of eating healthier,” added Stedem.

Over the next year, OATS will implement new programs and activities aimed at keeping employees healthy by partnering with fitness centers, hospitals and colleges across the state. Many companies have already donated to this new program because of the benefit it provides to so many people. Next month OATS will be starting a new challenge called the Walk Across Missouri, which was put together by an intern from the University of Missouri. Employees will form teams to race across the state (figuratively speaking) stopping at all OATS seven regional offices- a total of 870 miles. With community support, OATS will be able to continue to provide the tools for great health and fitness. Keeping employees healthy is very important for OATS. Thousands of Missourians count on OATS drivers for transportation, allowing them to live independently in their own communities.

OATS, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit corporation providing specialized transportation for senior citizens, people with disabilities and the rural general public in 87 Missouri counties. With over 750 employees spread all over the state, OATS is one of the largest and most unique systems of its kind in the country. For more information about the program or how you can partner with OATS visit their website at www.oatstransit.org or call 573-443-4516.